The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and several local pharmacies, including Dean’s, Johnson’s, The Medicine Shoppe, and CVS, have teamed up to take back unneeded and expired prescription drugs. They are providing a safe in a secure location at the Sheriff’s Office to take unwanted drugs and be properly destroyed.

Prescription pill addiction and abuse is a significant problem across the nation, including Alabama. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that approximately 46,000 Americans die each year from drug-related deaths.  More than half of those are from heroin and prescription opioids. Additionally, four out of five new heroin users start with prescription medications. 

According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, this initiative aims to address this crucial public safety and public health issue.

“We want to prevent those deaths and prevent these addictions associated with prescription pills. Much too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands.  That’s dangerous and often tragic, particularly when it’s our children and teenagers” said Sheriff Shaver, “I appreciate all of the pharmacies for stepping up to be an important part of this initiative. I especially commend Pharmacist Brett Butler and Chief Investigator Josh Summerford for their efforts in spear-heading this project.” 

Local pharmacists encourage everyone to clean out medicine cabinets of expired or unwanted medications and take them to the Sheriff’s Office for destruction in order to prevent them from landing in the wrong hands. The drugs can be taken to the Sheriff’s Office between 8-4 on Monday through Friday. Pharmacies participating in this initiative include: Dean’s Drugs, Johnson Pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, and CVS.